Harlow 39  Upper Clapton 5

Warm Up Game

Harlow were joined by near neighbours Upper Clapton on Saturday for a warm up game as part of the intensive work by both clubs leading up to the start of their league competitions.  Both sides used it as a trial game rotating players during the three 25 minute sessions so we should not read too much into the actual score line. Both sides had some new signings not yet available so their future prospects should be even better.

From a Harlow perspective it was the first time that new coach Matt Davies and player coach Lee Harron could see their squad in a match situation and the overall impression is that the intensive pre-season training is paying off.
The Rams were able to run in 7 good tries and their defence was solid till the last few minutes. Skipper Paul Eynon celebrated his appointment with a try and others by Scott Thorne and Mark Pickett meant that all the back row players got on the score card. A try by Matt Todd meant that the tight five did not miss out and the backs contributed with tries by Ian Rundall, James McFerran, and Ben Jarvis. A conversion each from Stradling and McFerran completed the scoring for the Rams.  Upper Clapton had a number of periods when they put pressure on the Harlow try line and were rewarded with a score ten minutes before the end.

It was probably the speed of their backs and many of the forwards which gave Harlow the edge. While in tight situations the Clapton pack preformed well on those occasions when Harlow were able to break into space they looked dangerous. Some good scoring opportunities were missed and in particular there is still work to do improving the communication and running angles but this should come with more match practice.  

This coming Saturday the firsts are at home to Braintree for their second warm up game this Saturday before starting their league campaign on the  3rd September  v Bury St Edmunds at home KO 3pm. They also have a home tie against Bishop’s Stortford in the Powergen Intermediate Cup which will be played on 17^th September.

1st 25mins (Follow links to player profiles)
1. Gary Brown
2. Stuart Wilkins
3. Paul Prindiville
4. Paul Scott
5. James Grover
6. Scott Thorne
7. Mark Pickett
8. Paul Eynon (Captain)
9. Jake Kent-Pope
10. Ben Jarvis
11. Lee Smith
12. David Stradling
13. Wayne Morgan
14. Simon Vanbeck
15. Matt Howard

2nd 25mins (Follow links to player profiles)
1. James Ephgrave
2. Richard Snell
3. Gary Brown
4. Matthew Todd (Jabba)
5. Darran Hawkins
6. Jon Snow
7. Mark Pickett
8. Paul Eynon (Captain)
9. Darren Dunn
10. Ben Jarvis

11. Steve Ward
12. Gary Stanley
13. Ian Rundall
14. Simon Vanbeck
15. James McFerran

3rd 25 mins (Follow links to player profiles)
1. James Ephgrave
2. Stuart Wilkins
3. Gary Brown (Sub Paul Prindiville)
4. Paul Scott
5. James Grover
. Scott Thorne
7. Mark Pickett
8. Paul Eynon (Captain)
9. Darren Dunn (Sub Jake Kent-Pope)
10. Ben Jarvis
11. Lee Smith
12. David Stradling
13. Wayne Morgan
14. Simon Vanbeck
15. Matt Howard

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